COLLEGE BOUND / A weekly guide to higher education

Joanne Levy-Prewitt

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, June 24, 2007

Q:My daughter is a high school sophomore with a passion for performing arts. She has performed for several years in musicals at camps, school and recently at a community theater. Her dream is to enter a performing arts program at a reputable college. How much of a resume would she need to satisfy their requirements? What level of academic achievements are schools looking for in conjunction with theater experience? I understand auditions are necessary for admittance into theater programs. What do they entail?

A:It's always fascinating to see young adults find something they are passionate about and want to pursue in college. I'm sure your daughter knows how competitive the film, television and theater industries are, and she should also know that admission to some college performing arts programs can be extremely competitive as well.

The good news is that nearly every college in the country has a theater department, including community colleges, so if your daughter is flexible, she will have options. Many of these schools emphasize a liberal arts education, and students must take a well-rounded course of study in addition to theater or performing classes. There are also acting conservatories like Juilliard. Conservatories emphasize the profession of performing and the majority of units taken are usually in that area.

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Some colleges have prestigious or well-funded theater departments, and your daughter's college search should include investigation into the emphasis and support of the theater program. You might determine the number of musicals, dramas and experimental productions each year. Some colleges will offer a wide variety of majors or minors in areas such as acting, musical theater or production. Some of the more selective schools welcome an audition DVD or tape showcasing a prepared monologue; others, like conservatories, usually require live auditions or interviews. Live auditions often take place throughout the country at various locations. Individual college Web sites offer details.

Your daughter's acting resume and accomplishments will be important to prove both her dedication to and growth in the performing arts. Typically, a resume will include extensive training and experience. She'll want to demonstrate that she has taken courses in performing arts and that she has eagerly sought a variety of situations in which she can hone her skills.

Her high school grades will be important no matter where she applies. The more selective programs will require proven talent and experience as well as high grades because in addition to performing, your daughter will be reading, writing and analyzing just as any college student would.

I think most parents would like their dramatically inclined children to have a backup plan in case they cannot support themselves in the performing arts. Without knowing your daughter, I can't make a suggestion about a minor course of study. However, she can earn a living if she's flexible and willing to work in the industry without being a paid performer. Many performers become stage managers or drama teachers, for example, and many universities offer majors or minors in areas such as theater education, production or management, or theater history.

If she keeps her options open, your daughter will be able to continue performing in college, and can earn a living in her field. However, the industry as a whole and the most selective college programs are very competitive. If that does not discourage her, then she just might have what it takes to be successful in the performing arts.

UC San Diego, for example, is a public university with an excellent theater department, and anyone who gains admission to the campus can declare theater as a major, without an audition.